Tag Archives: electric car

-Other EVs-, Velozzi

On the Velozzi

Leave a comment

Velozzi

With all the buzz surrounding the big name automakers entering EV market, I thought I’d take some time to write about a relatively unheralded upstart looking to take home the Progressive Automotive X Prize. Unheralded, until you find out how many rocket scientists are behind the program, with help from Bayer MaterialScience, Weisman R&D, some aeronautical patent holders, and Saminco Inc., which created the worlds fastest EV (321 mph). The supercar will be a series hybrid, meaning the wheels will be powered completely by four electric motors (at each wheel) with no combustion engine help. However, a small internal combustion engine will be used to recharge the batteries. They have not decided on which fuel the vehicle will use: E85, gasoline, or biodiesel. The team projects the Velozzi will accelerate from 0-60 in an unprecedented sub 3 seconds and have a top speed of 200 mph, all while maintaining a fuel efficiency of 100 to 200 mpg. Roberto Jerez, the company CEO, gave a pretty good update on the Velozzi’s development as of late June for AlternativeEnergy.com. You can find out more about the car and the dream team behind it at Velozzi.org.

Chrysler

Chrysler Reveals its Electric Cars!

2 Comments

Looks like the good ol’ boys at Chrysler have been paying attention. With rising gas prices, economic downturn, and their own disappointing sales, Chrysler had been secretly developing electric cars since 2007 in the ENVI program. Each of these 3 highway capable EV’s has its own distinct characteristics and function.

Dodge EV
Dodge EV

The Dodge EV is an obvious reaction to the popularity and media buzz created by the Tesla Roadster. The car features the same Lotus styling, and a 150 to 200 mile EV range while boasting a 0-60 in under 5 seconds. Look for them to undercut the Tesla Roadster’s price, as Chrysler will be able to produce cheaper than any EV startup.

Chrysler EV
Chrysler Minivan EV

The Chrysler EV is a serial plug-in hybrid in that can go 40 miles on electric power before a gasoline generator kicks in to extend the range to 400 miles. When the small gasoline motor is on, the minivan gets 50 miles per gallon. An electric minivan is really ingenious because middle class families will be able to save money driving their ev on the long trips that really are starting to cost us an arm and a leg. This way they do not need an electric car for the day-to-day driving and a gasoline car for long trips. Having two cars to save money is sort of counterproductive and why many would be wary of buying an ev.

Jeep EV
Jeep EV

The Jeep EV will have the same electric/gasoline combination power setup as the Chrysler EV, but the Jeep will feature four electric motors at each wheel. Which could, in theory make the Jeep EV superior to the regular Jeeps in many ways. Each wheel being independently powered could open up some interesting opportunities in maneuverability during off-roading situations.  Jeep EVs will also not have regular axle setups that can hinder Jeeps off road.

Chrysler says around 100 test cars should be on the road next year.  There is really no reason why these cars shouldn’t be released within the next couple years, because they are not using any new technology that has not already been demonstrated by EV startups.  Regardless, anytime a big automaker like Chrysler recognizes electric car’s potential, it is good news for everyone… except the startups.

-Uncategorized-

Mystery of the Electric Car

2 Comments

So I’ve been reading up on electric cars for a while now, and over that time a pretty clearly defined mystery plot unfolded before me.

Then:
EV1
The modern day electric car saga (not the one from a century ago) began in 1996 when GM released the EV1 to customers in California on a lease only basis. Customers loved the car for its convenience, environmental standards, and impressive performance.  The EV1 could blow away combustion engine varieties in its class in 0-60 trials.  Depending on what generation you drove, the batteries could last from 70-160 miles on a charge.  Patrons who were able to lease one gave it rave reviews, but the car was inexplicably pulled off the market in 1999, and the leased cars were taken back by GM and crushed.  The car was a completely capable, $30,000 to $40,000, plug-in ev that did not even make it to the 21st century.  This was before lithium-ion batteries, the popularity of laptop computers, and numerous other technological advances of the past ten years.

One name stuck out like a sore thumb from when I watched Who Killed the Electric Car (I encourage everyone to watch).  His name was Alan Cocconi and he developed the 100,000 watt amplifier for GM that would allow the first generation EV1 to travel 90 miles on a charge, and go 0-60 in 7.9 seconds, with lead-acid batteries.  I wrote an article completely dedicated to his work from development of the EV1 to his company, AC Propulsion, and his electric drivetrain, now used in the Venturi Fetish, Wrightspeed X1, and the Tesla Roadster.

Now:
Twike

So how do you rectify it being 2008 and the advances in lithium-ion laptop battery technology, with the auto industry’s failure to release an electric car with comparable performance to the EV1 at a reasonable price? Look at this list of 10 electric cars available now.  It’s a sad motley crew of too expensive and barely capable of 45 mph.  And it’s not the fault of the startups. How can these small companies compete with big auto? But notice the two electric supercars on the list, the Tesla Roadster and the Venturi Fetish.  What do they have in common? Alan Cocconi’s AC propulsion electric drivetrain.  Why is this man not employed by a major automaker?  If Tesla had GM’s scale, they would have no problem selling an electric vehicle far superior than any combustion engine car to the masses for under $30,000.  Why can’t major automakers utilize this technology instead of giving us the over hyped hybrid Chevy Volt?  I would love to interview Alan Cocconi to see what his thoughts are on this.

Chevy Volt

Production Chevy Volt Revealed

Leave a comment

Chevy Volt

Chevy Volt

Chevy Volt
Pictures courtesy of Autobloggreen.com

Featuring snazzily dressed Chevy executives.  But I must say, they are right on the money with this design.  Chevy did away with the sharp corners and the awkward plastic moldings around the windows; and they are obviously targeting the Toyota Prius market as a gas saving, compact family sedan.  They could have gone the other way with this, as an edgy electric sports car, but it would have been a bit ego heavy, and not broadly appealing. Another major carmaker, Honda, is following this strategy as their upcoming 2010 hybrid is even more of a knockoff of the successful Prius. The Chevy Volt is tentatively scheduled to release in 2011

Lightning GT

Lightning GT promises 10-minute recharge

Leave a comment

Lightning GT

-Provided you have an industrial strength outlet. But the Lightning GT was unveiled at the London Motor Show this summer, and boy does it look mean. With four at-the-wheels electric motors, the vehicle puts out 640 bhp, propelling it from 0-60 in 4 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. The 30 Nanosafe batteries should provide a 180 mile range and weigh around 400kg. These batteries employ a new lithium-ion technology that replaces graphite with a titanite-based material to make them more thermally stable. The price could be comparable to the Tesla Roadster, but with exchange rates going the way they are, the GT will probably be around 200,000 USD. The car is still on schedule to be released in 2009. Here’s the Lightning GT’s London Motor show debut:

Well, I’m certainly looking forward to the UK’s answer to Tesla.

VentureOne

On the VentureOne

1 Comment

To give you an idea of what the VentureOne is, this is a TopGear video on the Vandenbrink Carver, which is a three wheeled vehicle that utilizes a unique tilting action to turn. See for yourself:

Interestingly, the Carver is about $60,000, and the electric/hybrid VentureOne is targeted to be between $18,000 and $25,000 using this same tilting technology. Seems like a lofty goal; and this concept had been in the works for years with nothing more than a computer generated image, up until now. I was starting to lose hope, but the VentureOne was finally unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show in the Automotive X Prize entries and it looks good:

VentureOne

They are projecting the two-seater wlll have a 0-60 of 7 seconds and a top speed of about 100 mph. The vehicle will come in three models, two hybrids and a full ev:
VentureOne Models

VentureOne Vehicles plans to release in California initially in 2010 because they have more lenient 3 wheeled vehicle laws. Hopefully, this car comes to fruition, because it is a very exciting electric concept at a reasonable price. You can find out more about VentureOne at FlytheRoad.com and actually participate in the vehicle’s development in their forums. For example, members actually participated in deciding the final design. Neat idea.